Works Progress Administration

Definition

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a New Deal agency established in 1935 to provide jobs and income to millions of unemployed Americans during the Great Depression. It was a large-scale public works program that focused on infrastructure development and the creation of employment opportunities across a variety of sectors.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The WPA was created in response to the high unemployment rates and economic hardship caused by the Great Depression, with the goal of providing jobs and income to millions of Americans.
2. The WPA employed workers in a wide range of sectors, including construction, the arts, education, and social services, with a focus on projects that would benefit local communities.
3. The WPA's projects included the construction of roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and other public infrastructure, as well as the creation of murals, sculptures, and other artistic works.
4. The WPA was led by Harry L. Hopkins, a close advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and a key architect of the New Deal's social welfare programs.
5. The WPA was one of the largest and most ambitious public works programs in American history, employing millions of people and spending billions of dollars on projects across the country.

Review Questions

• Explain the role of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in addressing the economic challenges of the Great Depression.
  • The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a key component of the New Deal's efforts to combat the economic hardships of the Great Depression. Established in 1935, the WPA provided millions of unemployed Americans with jobs and income through a wide range of public works projects, including the construction of roads, bridges, schools, and other infrastructure. By putting people to work and injecting money into local economies, the WPA aimed to stimulate economic activity and alleviate the widespread poverty and unemployment that characterized the Great Depression.
• Describe the relationship between the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the broader New Deal policies implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
  • The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a central part of the New Deal, the series of economic programs and reforms introduced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to address the Great Depression. The WPA was one of the largest and most ambitious of the New Deal's public works programs, working in tandem with other initiatives such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Public Works Administration (PWA) to create jobs, build infrastructure, and stimulate the economy. The WPA's focus on providing employment through a diverse range of projects, from construction to the arts, reflected the New Deal's broader goal of using government intervention to alleviate the hardships of the Great Depression and promote economic recovery.
• Analyze the long-term impact of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) on the development of American infrastructure and the role of the federal government in addressing economic crises.
  • The Works Progress Administration (WPA) had a significant and lasting impact on the development of American infrastructure and the role of the federal government in addressing economic crises. Through its massive public works projects, the WPA not only provided jobs and income to millions of unemployed Americans during the Great Depression but also left behind a legacy of bridges, roads, schools, and other vital public facilities that continue to benefit communities across the country. The WPA's success in using government intervention to stimulate the economy and create jobs also demonstrated the potential for the federal government to play a more active role in addressing economic challenges, a model that would be further expanded in subsequent crises, such as the Great Recession of the late 2000s. The WPA's enduring influence on American infrastructure and the evolving relationship between the government and the economy continue to shape discussions around the appropriate scope and scale of public works programs and the federal government's role in economic policymaking.

Related terms

New Deal:

A series of economic programs and reforms implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s to address the Great Depression, including the creation of the WPA.

Great Depression:

A severe and prolonged economic downturn that began in 1929 and lasted throughout the 1930s, leading to high unemployment, poverty, and widespread hardship.

Public Works Administration (PWA): Another New Deal agency that focused on the construction of large-scale public works projects, such as bridges, dams, and public buildings, in contrast to the WPA's emphasis on smaller, labor-intensive projects.